Three juveniles seen leaving church vandalism scene

Series of destructive acts at South Bend church

Series of destructive acts at South Bend church

SOUTH BEND Â? Sunday mightÂ?s vandalism is by far the worst, but itÂ?s just the latest in a series of destructive acts that has struck a South Bend church, a spokesman said.

City police are searching for leads on three juveniles seen running out of Church of Christ, 1827 Caroline St., after trying to set a fire inside, according to Sgt. Lee Ross, a city police spokesman.

The incident was classified as a burglary-arson by police.

Vandals broke numerous windows, spray-painted graffiti outside, dumped grape juice in sanctuary pews and on the carpet, ejected contents of a fire extinguisher and tried to set fires inside, church trustee John Japa said today.

Because of the churchÂ?s concrete block construction, fire caused little damage to the structure, but there was damage to bulletin boards and wooden racks, Japa said.

One of the windows broken was a stained-glass one at the front of the church.

A neighbor of the church called police about the fire and saw three boys run out of the building, police said.

Japa said his son heard the call go out over the police scanner shortly before 9:30 p.m. and called his father. Japa then called another trustee since he had to wait for a ride to the church.

This morning, Japa, who is also the church treasurer and a part-time pastor, was talking to a restoration specialist and waiting on an insurance adjuster to review the damage. Church officials had not received a damage estimate yet.

"Nothing appeared to be stolen," he said.

The incident is just a series in acts of vandalism that seem to have escalated lately, according to Japa.

There have been three or four incidents within the past month, police said.

And there have been several other incidents of vandalism in the neighborhood, Ross said, including graffiti painted on a former Kreamo bakery store next door at Twyckenham Drive and Calvert Street and on a subdivision entrance sign at Twyckenham and Ewing Avenue.

A year ago, someone stole two air conditioning units from outside the church, Japa said, and there was further trouble after those were replaced. Church officials began keeping the new ones inside until they could build a walled enclosure for it, which was done earlier this summer.

A couple of weeks ago, some windows were broken at the church, Japa said, and in another incident, graffiti was sprayed over the air conditioner enclosure, which Japa painted over.

Last week, a back door handle was broken at the building, which has been for sale, Japa said, but it didnÂ?t appear anyone got in or took anything.

That door handle had just been replaced with a new one Friday, he added.

He said Sunday nightÂ?s graffiti was larger and more extensive than what had been done before. Japa said he has been told there were some gang connotations, but no one knows for sure whether gang members are involved.

No one has been apprehended for any of the incidents at the church.

The fact there is suspect information from SundayÂ?s incident at least gives police something to go on, Ross said, because there was no information on suspects before.

It is unknown if all the incidents are related.

Police remained at the church investigating and taking photos until about 1:30 a.m. today, Japa said.

A South Bend Fire Department arson investigator is also expected to do follow-up work.